Conveyer



y 1929' J. J. MOJONNIER CONVEYEH Filed May 17, 1926 3- Sheets-Sheet 1 y 28, 1929- J. J. MOJONNIER 1,714,721

CONVEYER Filed May 17, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a m 1| 2 v 2 N a y 1929- J. J. MOJONNIEIR CONVEYER Filed May 17, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 311f? 'r 01: Julius f/Kqwmz'er l I l Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES JULIUS J. MOJONNIER, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MOJ'ONNIER BROS. CO., A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONVEYER.

Application filed May 17, 1926. Serial No. 109,728.

The present invention relates generally to conveyers and more particularly to the sheaves and links of such conveyers. Although capable of use in various connections, conveyers constructed in accordance with the present invention are intended more particunovel sheave and link belt structure which will meet all the requirements of service in the field mentioned. Another object is to provide a novel arrangement of guide-ways with the sheaves and belts. Other features set forth in the accompanying disclosure include suitable guiding means for directing containers from one conveyer to another,

guards for holding containers in place upon the conveying belts, adjusting means for tensioning the belts and adjustable feet upon the legs or posts of the supporting frame to enable it to be lined up and otherwise proper reference to the following detailed descrip-- tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings while the scope of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to said drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a conveyer constructed and ar ranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the end of the conveyer, illustrating more particularly the relative positions of the motor, gearing and driving sheaves; Fig. 3 is a transversesection through one of the conveyer belts and its supporting guide-way, the plane of section being indicated by the line '33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar transverse section including a plurality of such belts and their guide-ways and also guides for the containers or packages carried by the conveyer, a portion of one such container being illustrated partly in section, the plane of section of the conveyer parts being indicated by the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the conveyer, motor and intervening gear casing; Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of a portion of the conveyer illustrating more particularly one of the link belts and an associated sheave, the plane of section being indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of one of the links of the conveyer belt; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the same link viewed from above; Fig. 9 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a modification wherein a channel plate is used to form the bottom and guide-ways over which the belts travel; Fig. 10 is a similar section of a still further modification wherein six conveying belts are shown in association with a partition which divides the belts into two sets of three each; Fig. 11 is a similar section illustrating the structure arranged for four belts also associated with a partition, in this case dividing the belts into two sets of two each; Fig. 12 is'a plan view of two conveyers arranged end to end with an intervening apron over which the containers are passed from one conveyer to the other; Fig. 13 is a plan view of two such conveyers meeting at an angle and having an associated inclined guide for directing the containers in their passage from one conveyer to the other; and Fig. 14 is a horizontal section through the gearing by which the speed of the motor is properly reduced to that required for the driving of the conveyer. Throughout these views like characters refer to like parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates the conveyer frame, B the belts, G the driving sheaves, D the driven sheaves, E the enclosed reduction gearing, and F the driving motor.

The frame A consists of two side members 20, 21, which are connected at intervals to the tops of posts 22, 23, the posts 22 being connected to the member 20 and the posts 23 to the member 21. These several posts are provided with adjustable feet 24 which are held in adjusted position by bolts 25 passing through slots in the foot members and into engagement with threaded openings in the posts. By tightening the bolts 25 the feet 24 may. be held in desired adjusted positions. Obviously the feet and legs may be.

'at the driving end of the frame.

adjustably connected in other ways. The way illustrated is merely typical. By adjusting the feet 24 the conveyer frame A may be properly lined up. It is often found in practice that the floor upon which the conveyer is to rest is uneven. The adjustability of the feet enables the structure to be properly set up notwithstanding irregularity in the surface of thefloor. The frame A is intended to carry the sheaves C and D and the conveyer belts B. In order to support the latter I preferably locate between the sheaves supporting members which serve as guide-ways for the belts. In the simplest form of the invention these guide-ways take the form of channel bars 26, 27 the bars 26 supporting the upper stretch of the belts and the bars 27 the lower stretch. In order to support the channel bars 26 and 27 I prefer ably connect companion post-s 22, 23, by transverse members 28, 29,- which are preferably angle bars. These transverse members are properly secured to the posts 22, 23, and the channel bars 26, 27, in any suitable way, as by spot welding. It may be desirable where the longitudinal distances between posts is considerable, to provide auxiliary means for supporting the guide-ways, especially guideways 26 associated with the upper stretches of the belts which are those upon which the packages or containers are coriveyed. For this purpose I preferably employ hangers 30 of U-shaped outline which have their upper ends suitably secured to the longitudinal members 20, 21 and carry the guide members 26 upon their middle horizontal por tions, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4.

The reduction gearing E is located at the driving end of the frame A in association with the driving sheaves C. This gearing is mounted in a rectangular frame 31 which embracesfour of the legs or supports 22, 23 Viewed from above, the frame 31 is divided at or near its center by a longitudinal member 32. The portion of the frame on one side of the member32 embraces. the legs of frame A and. the portion on the other side of the member 32 supports the gearing which is enclosed by the frame 31 and the casings 33, 34. The latter are provided with openings closed by lugs 35, 36. As illustrated more particuarly in Fig. 5, the structure including the frame 31 and casings 33 and 34 is symmetrical on opposite sides of a central horizontal plane. Because of this fact it is possible to position the gearing E with the casings 33 and 34 to the left of the frame A as Viewed in Fig. 5 or to the right of the frame A. In

the latter case the frame 31 might be rotated 180 degrees horizontally from the position of Fig. 2 into its position at-the right of the frame A or it might be inverted to shift it from its position at the left to its position at ported by an angular frame member 37 which is secured at one end to the frame 31, a

and at the other it rests upon a suitable support 38. The member 37 serves as a base for the electric motor F. The latter has its shaft 39 coupled to the driving shaft 40 of the gearing E by a coupling 41. The openings closed by plugs 35 and 36 serve as oil holes for sup plying lubricating oil to the gearing and draining the same therefrom. In the positionillustrated in Fig. 5 the plug 35 closes the supply opening and the plug 36 closes the drain opening. If the frame 31 were in inverted position then the openings would serve the reverse functions, that is to say, plug 36 would close the oil supply opening and plug 35 would close the drain opening.

The sheaves C are mounted upon the driven shaft 42 of the gearing E, being keyed or otherwise fixed to the same. The reduction gearing by which the speed of the motor shaft 39 and driven shaft 40 are reduced to meet the requirements of the sheaves C is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 14. As there shown, the shafts 40 and 42 are in longitudinal alignment and the end of the shaft 40 is journaled in .a bore formed in the end of the shaft 42. Both shafts 40 and 42 are journaled in hearings in the gearing frame 31. A counter shaft 43 is also journaled in the same frame and lies in the same horizontal plane as the shafts 40 and 42. ,A pinion 44 is keyed to shaft 40 and drives a gear Wheel 45 keyed to the sleeve of a pinion 46 loosely journaled upon a reduced portion of the counter shaft 43. The pinion 46 drives a gear wheel 47 keyed to the sleeve of a pinion 48 journaled loosely upon a portion of the driving shaft 40, and the pinion 48 in turn drives a gear wheel 49 keyed to the sleeve of a pinion 50 loosely journaled upon the counter shaft 43. The pinion 50 drives a gear wheel 51 keyed to the driven shaft 42 upon which the driving sheaves C are fixed. It will be apparent that other arrangements of gearing might be employed to bring about the required speed reduction. The particular arrangement is merely typical. -Obviously the entire gearing within the frame 31 and casings 33 and 34 may work in a bath of oil or other lubricant. v

The belts B which travel over the sheaves C and D are composed of solid metal links of the form illustrated more particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. Each link 52 is provided with a tongue 53 at one end and a slot 53 at the other end. The tongue of one link enters the slot of the next and a pivot pin 54 connects the two links together, the pin passing through the opening 55 in the tongue 53 and the openings 56 in the bifurcated arms on the opposite sides of the slot 53 The upper face of each link is curved transversely, as well illustrated in Figs. 3, 4:,and 9, and thus forms a long, narrow contact zone with which the bottom flange of the can which is commonly employed upon conveyers of this kind, engages. This more or less linear contact between the curved tops of the links and the can is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4 where the flange 57 of the can 58 is shown in engagement with the tops of the links 52. As clearly shown, each link is provided on its inner side with a re-entrant tooth space 59 which is adapted to cooperate with teeth 60 upon the sheaves over which it travels This tooth space is preferably located at or near the center of the link 52 and preferably the walls 61 of this space extend throughout the entire width of the link. It

is also preferable that other portions of the same side of the link, such as the portions 62 and 63, should extend throughout the entire width of the link. The portions 61, 62 and 63 have fiat faces which lie in the same plane and thereby engage the flat surface of the guide-ways over which the link travels when loaded, thereby maintaining the link always in the same position and with a solid support formed by this substantial engagement of the links with the guide-ways. Central webs 64 connect the portions 61, 63 on the one end and 61, 62 on the other. Cutting away the link on opposite sides of the webs 64 makes the link lighter while the presence of the webs keeps it sufliciently strong for the intended purposes. The sheaves C have their teeth 60 located at the centers of polygonal faces 65 which form the bottom of the groove between the rims or flanges 66 of the sheave. The polygonal faces 65 are of a length such as to suit the length between adjacent pivots 54 of the link belt B. Consequently as the sheave C is driven it draws upon the upper stretch of the belt B and the latter carries forward the load placed upon it. When it comes to the driven sheave D the teeth 60 upon it and the polygonal faces 65 cooperate with the tooth space 59 and the link 52 in the same way. As clearly shown, the guide-ways preferably extend throughout the reater portion of the distance between the Sheaves C, D, although this arrangement might be varied. In some instances occasional supporting guides might suffice, and in other instances the guides might be extended so as to terminate nearer to the sheaves. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 the lower guide-ways 27 are bent down as they approach the sheaves C and so more readily engage the link belts as they pass from the sheave C, the direction of rotation being that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

The sheaves D, as shown in Fig. 1, are keyed to a common shaft 67 which is, journaled in boxes 68 adapted, respectively, to travel longitudinally between guides 69 in an end frame 70 provided with legs 71 upon which are adjustable feet 72 of the same con struction as feet 24, previously described. The boxes 68 are adjustable by means of screws 73 passing through threaded openings in fixed portions 74 of the frame 70. In the drawing only one screw with assol o ciated parts, is illustrated. but it will be no derstood that two such screws and associated parts, will be employed.

Besides varying the length 'of the guideways 26 and27, the same-may be located alone upon the transverse members 28 and 29 of the frame, or they may be associated with other similar members. Inthe form of the inven-' tion illustrated in Fig. 4, the members/26 have associated with them a channel bar 75 which lies between them. The bar 7 5 is inverted with respect to the bars 26, as clearly shown. Again, in lieu of the partial floor structure composed of the channel bars 26 and 7 5, I may employ a floor member 76, il- '95 lustrated in Fig. 9, consisting of a single. sheet of metal depressed so as to provide two channels 77 in which the belts B travel. This plate 76 must of course be suitably supported upon the transverse members 28, 29 of the frame structure.

It is also possible and desirable in some instances to construct the conveyer for different capacities. In the caseillustrated in. Figs. 1 and 2, only two conveyer belts 211'8'105 shown. The conveyer in such instance is capable of handling three gallon and five gallon cans in case the conveyer is used .in a creamery or other place where it is employed in handling cans of milk or similar commodities. To increase the capacity of theconveyer to carry ten gallon cans or packages of similar size and weight, I preferably employ three conveying chains or belts. Where de: sired the conveyer may also be constructed so as to provide a plurality of conveying passages. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. As shown in Fig. 10, there are six belts B divided into two sets of three belts each, while in Fig. 11, four v of the invention illustrated in Fig. 10, the

guidebars 26 are used without intervening members, whereas, in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 11, I employ inverted angle bars 79 which cooperate with the guide bar 26 to complete the floor between the posts 22 and 23 of the frame A.

The conveyers are preferably made in units of the kind illustrated in Fig. 1 and may be greatly varied in length. In some instances, however, it is desirable to employ a plurality of such units and to convey commodities from one unit to another. In other words, it is desirable to convey commodities from one conveyer to a second conveyen,

Where these conveyers are arranged in line, as illustrated in Fig. 12, an apron 80, suitably supported upon'the two conveyer frames, is used to convey the articles over the ap between the conveyers. In such case die side guards 20 and 21 of the frames of the conveyers are extended so as to meet each other, or practically so, and the power applied by the delivering conveyer belts to the cans upon the apron through the stream of crowded, contacting cans, or other packages, is sufficient to force the cans, or packages, over the apron 80 to the next conveyer where new 1 power is applied to carry them on. In other instances the conveyers, are not arranged in the sameline, but one lies at an angle to the other. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 13 where the conveyers X and Y meet at a right angle. In the case illustrated, the receptacles 58 are moving through conveyer X, as indicated by the arrow, into engagement with an angularly disposed curved guide 81 upon conveyer Y, which defleets the containers from conveyer X onto conveyer Y. In this instance both conveyers are driven by their own individual motors, the take-up mechanism of conveyer Y being located at the right, and the gearing E and the driving motor F of conveyer X being located adjacent to the same end of conveyer Y. The guide 81 is suitably supported upon conveyer Y by arms or members 82, 83, secured to the guide 20 of said conveyer. The flooring here shown is that illustrated in Fig. 11 and consequently the channel bars 7 9 bridge the gap between the chains of conveyers X and Y. In this case, the side bar 21 of conveyer Y is cut away to provide a passage between the conveyers, and bar 20 of conveyer X is preferably extended to the end of guide 81.

The various members of the frame A are preferably composed of rolled metal in the form of angle and channel bars which adapt themselves readily to such construction. The link belts B are preferably made of malleable iron. The frame 31 and casings 33 and 34 are ordinarily iron castings. The other arts are of usual material and construction. ince the conveyers are intended for use in creameries, ice cream factories and like places, where there is a great deal of humidity present in the air the various parts of the frame. the chain lin s, the sheaves and other parts are preferabl galvanized or otherwise treated to resist t e corrosive action of the sur- 0t ier commodities and articles than the ones heretofore mentioned. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact matters disclosed either by .way of construction or use but aim to cover by the terms of, the appended claims such alterations, modifications and uses as come within the scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by a Patent of the United States is:

1. In a conveyer, a sheave having a peripheral groove, the bottom of said groove between the outer flanges being polygonal in central section in the plane of the sheave and having short spur teeth extending outward from said bottom to a height less than that of said flanges, and a metal link chain for cooperating with said sheave comprising interconnected links tongued and slotted at opposite ends, the tongue of one link lying in the slot of the next and being pivotally connected thereto, each link having a tooth depression for cooperating with the spur teeth on said sheave and adjacent to said depression portions for engaging each polygonal face of the bottom of the groove of said sheave throughout the length of each said face and havin a package-engaging surface on its opposite side raised at its center throughout thelength of the link, the height of the package-engaging surface above the center of an engaged polygonal face being substantially the same as that of the flanges of said sheave at the same point.

2. In a conveyer, a sheave having a peripheral groove, the bottom of said groove between the outer flanges being polygonal in central section in the plane of the sheave and having short spur teeth extending outward from said bottom to a height less than that of said flanges, and a metal link chain for cooperating with said sheave comprising interconnected links tongued and slotted at opposite ends, the tongue of one link lying in the slot of the next and being pivotally connected thereto, each link having a tooth depression for cooperating with the spur teeth on said sheave andadjacent to said depression portions for engaging each polygonal face of the bottom of the groove of said sheave and having a package-engaging surface on its opposite side, the height of the package-engaging surface above t e center of an engaged polygonal face being substantially the same as that of the flanges of said sheave at the same point. I

3. A conveyer comprising along supporting frame, sheaves at opposite ends of said frame, a metal link belt around said sheaves, and a channeled guideway between said sheaves along which said belt travels, one of said sheaves being in a position to engage packages conveyed by the conveyer, said sheaves having a peripheral groove providing outer flanges, the bottom of said groove being polygonal in central section in the plane of the sheave and havingshort spur teeth extending outward from said polygonal faces to a height less than the height ofsaid flanges, said channeled guideway having walls substantially the same in height as the flanges of said sheave at a point near the center of each polygonal face, and said chain comprising interconnecting links tongued and slotted at opposite ends, the tongue of one link lying in the slot of the next and being pivotally connected thereto, each link having a tooth depression for cooperating with the spur teeth on said last mentioned sheave and adiacent portions for engaging each polygonal face of the bot tom of the groove of said sheave throughout the length of each-said face and havin a package-engaging surface on its opposite slde raised at its center throughout the length of the link, the height of'the package-engaging surface above the center of an engaged polygonal face being substantially the same as that of the flanges of said sheave above the samepoint and consequently the same as the height of the walls of said channeled guideway.

4. A conveyer comprising a long supporting frame, sheaves at opposite ends of said frame, a metal link belt around said sheaves, and a channeled guideway between said sheaves along which said belt travels, one of said sheaves being in a position to engage packages conveyed by the conveyer, said sheave having a peripheral groove providing outer flanges, the bottom of said groove being polygonal in central section in the plane of the sheave and having short spurteeth extending outward from said polygonal faces to a height less than the height of said flanges, said channeled guideway having walls substantially the same in height as the flanges of .said sheave at a pointnear the center of each polygonal face. and said chain comprising intQICOnHQCtlIIg links tongued and slotted at opposite ends, the tongue of one link lying in the slot of the next and being pivotally connected thereto, each link having a tooth depression for cooperating with the spur teeth on said last mentioned sheave and adjacent portions for engaging each polygonal face of the bottom of the groove of said sheave and having a package-engaging surface on its onposite side, the height of the package-engaging surface above the center of an engaged pos te ends,

polygonal face being substantially the same as that of the flanges of said sheave above the same point and consequently'the same as the height'ofthe walls of said channeled guideway.

5. A conveyer, comprising a long supporting frame, sheaves at opposite ends of said frame, a metal ,link belt around said sheaves, [and a channeled guideway between said sheaves along which said belt travels,

one of said sheaves being in a position to engage packages conveyfed by the conveyer, said sheave having a peripheral groove providing outer flanges, the bottom of said groove being polygonal in centralsection in the plane of the sheave and having short spur teeth extending outward fromsaid polygonal faces to a height less than the height of said flanges, said channeled guideway having walls substantially the same in height as the flanges of the bottom of the groove of said sheavethroughout the length of each said face and having a package-engaging surface on its opposite side. raised at its center throughout the length of the link, the height of the package-engaging surface above the center of an engaged polygonal face being substantially the same as that of the flanges of said sheave above the same point and consequently the same as the height of the walls of said channeled guideway.

6. A conveyer comprising a long supporting frame, sheaves at opposite ends of said frame, a metal link belt around said sheaves, and a channeled guideway between said sheaves along which said belt travels, one of said sheaves being in a position to engage packages conveyed by the conveyer, said sheave having a peripheral groove providing outer flanges, the-bottom of said groove being polygonal incentral section in the plane of the sheave and having short spur teeth extending outward from said polygonal faces to a height less than the height of said flanges, said chanand being pivotally connected thereto, each link having a tooth depression for cooperatingwith the spur teeth on said last mentioned sheave and adjacent portions for engaging each pol gonal face of the bottom of the groove 0 said sheave and having a packageengaging surface on its opposite side, the height of the package-engaging surface above the center of an engaged polygonal face being substantially the same as that of the 10 flanges of said sheave above the same point and consequently the same as the height of the Walls of said channeled guideway.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my narnethis 30 day of April, A. D. 1926.

JULIUS J. MOJONNIER. 

